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WMATA won't release 'mystery rider' findings

Results of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's quarter-million dollar "mystery rider" program will not be released to the public, the Washington Examiner reported August 10. Costing $252,000 in rider fares and taxpayer dollars, the program involves undercover riders who report back on the transit system. The multi-jurisdiction agency says release would share internal observations to be used in improving the system and may also contain proprietary and confidential commercial information. The Examiner reports that WMATA released a similar report in the past. While WMATA is not subject to the open records laws of the District, Maryland or Virginia, it has its own public-records policy that provides access to agency records.